Free Crochet Pattern: Jackson the Small Donkey
Free Crochet Pattern: Jackson the Small Donkey
Say hi to Jackson, the sweetest little donkey around. It’s such a fun pattern to make and works up pretty quickly.
The pattern is quite detailed, but it has been designed to be beginner-friendly. Even if you’re new to crocheting amigurumi, you’ll learn the basic techniques while making an adorable little friend.
There is a free online version of the pattern below, or you can get an ad-free printable PDF version with step-by-step photos on Etsy or KristiTullus.com.
About the Pattern
Size: Approximately 21.5 cm (8 1/2 inches) from head to toe, or 26 cm (10 1/4 inches) including the ears, when crocheted with DK weight alpaca and wool blend yarn and a 2.50 mm hook.
Difficulty: The pattern includes some less common crochet techniques, color changes, small details, and simple shaping.
You Will Need
- DK / light worsted / #3 / sport weight yarn
- DROPS Lima or a similar DK weight alpaca-wool blend yarn, 100 m (109 yd) / 50 g (1.76 oz)
- Approximately 35 g gray yarn (#9015)
- Approximately 3 g white yarn (#0100)
- Approximately 12 g black yarn (#8903)
- 2.50–3.50 mm crochet hook, US size 2/C–4/E
- Polyester fiberfill, wool, wadding, or other stuffing
- 8 mm (1/3 inch) safety eyes, buttons, beads, felt, or similar
- Two 12 mm (1/2 inch) and two 16 mm (2/3 inch) doll joints, safety eyes, or buttons
- Black cotton embroidery floss
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Stitch marker
Skills Required
- Magic ring
- Crocheting an oval around a foundation chain
- Crocheting in a spiral
- Slip stitch
- Single crochet stitch
- Back post single crochet stitch
- Increasing
- Decreasing
- Finishing an open piece
- Joining two open pieces
- Sewing an open piece to a closed piece
- Sewing a flat piece to a closed piece
Abbreviations
- mr, sc n = magic ring; start with an adjustable loop and crochet n single crochet stitches into the loop
- ch = chain stitch
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet stitch, or double crochet in UK and Australian terminology
- bpsc = back post single crochet stitch
- sc n = crochet 1 sc in each of the next n stitches
- inc = increase; crochet 2 sc in the same stitch
- dbl-inc = double increase; crochet 3 sc in the same stitch
- dec = decrease; crochet 2 stitches together using the invisible decrease method
- dec x n = crochet n decreases in a row
- (sc 4, inc) x n = repeat the instructions inside the parentheses n times
- (36) = number of stitches in the round after completing it
Notes
- Work in a continuous spiral. Do not join rounds or turn your work unless instructed otherwise.
- Use a stitch marker or a piece of yarn to mark the beginning or end of each round.
- Move the stitch marker up after completing each round.
- All stitches are worked through both loops unless otherwise instructed.
Head
Start with white yarn.
Rnd 1: mr, sc 6 (6)
Rnd 2: inc x6 (12)
Rnd 3: (inc, sc) x6 (18)
Rnd 4: (sc 5, inc) x3 (21)
Rnd 5: sc in each st (21)
Rnd 6: sc 2, inc, (sc 6, inc) x2, sc 4 (24)
Rnd 7: sc in each st (24)
Change to gray yarn.
Rnd 8: (sc 7, inc) x3 (27)
On Rnd 9, place a stitch marker between stitches 14 and 15, around the loops of the 15th stitch. This marks the center of the face and can be used as a guide when placing the eyes.
Rnd 9: sc 3, inc, (sc 8, inc) x2, sc 5 (30)
Rnd 10: (sc 4, inc) x6 (36)
Rnd 11: sc 12, inc, (sc 2, inc) x3, sc 14 (40)
Rnd 12: sc 15, inc, sc 7, inc, sc 16 (42)
Attach the safety eyes between Rnds 9 and 10, leaving 10 stitches, or 9 holes, between them.
Rnds 13–19: sc in each st (42)
Rnd 20: sc 12, dec, sc 19, dec, sc 7 (40)
Rnd 21: (sc 8, dec) x4 (36)
Rnd 22: sc, dec, (sc 4, dec) x5, sc 3 (30)
Start stuffing the head. Continue adding small amounts of fiberfill every few rounds and stuff the head firmly.
Rnd 23: (sc 3, dec) x6 (24)
Rnd 24: (dec, sc 2) x6 (18)
Rnd 25: (sc, dec) x6 (12)
Rnd 26: dec x6 (6)
Finish stuffing the head.
Cut the yarn, leaving a long yarn tail, and fasten off. Pick up all the remaining stitches and close the opening.
Use yarn to indent the eyes slightly.
Embroider the nostrils over Rnd 4 using black cotton embroidery floss.
Ears – Make 2
Use gray yarn.
Rnd 1: mr, sc 6 (6)
Rnd 2: (inc, sc) x3 (9)
Rnd 3: (sc 2, inc) x3 (12)
Rnd 4: sc, inc, (sc 3, inc) x2, sc 2 (15)
Rnd 5: (sc 4, inc) x3 (18)
Rnd 6: sc 2, inc, (sc 5, inc) x2, sc 3 (21)
Rnds 7–11: sc in each st (21)
Rnd 12: sc 4, dec, sc 15 (20)
Rnd 13: sc in each st (20)
Sl st in the next stitch. Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing, and fasten off.
Do not stuff the ears.
Flatten each ear and fold it in half lengthwise.
Sew the ears to the head, placing them just behind Rnd 14 of the head and leaving approximately 9–10 stitches between them.
Arms – Make 2
Start with black yarn.
Rnd 1: mr, sc 6 (6)
Rnd 2: inc x6 (12)
Rnd 3: (sc, inc) x6 (18)
Rnd 4: bpsc in each st (18)
Rnd 5: sc 6, dec, sc 2, dec, sc 6 (16)
Rnd 6: sc 7, dec, sc 7 (15)
Rnd 7: sc 3, dec, sc 6, dec, sc 2 (13)
Stuff firmly. Continue adding a small amount of fiberfill every few rounds while crocheting.
Change to gray yarn.
Rnd 8: sc 6, dec, sc 5 (12)
Rnd 9: sc in each st (12)
Rnd 10: sc 6, dec, sc 4 (11)
Rnd 11: sc in each st (11)
Rnd 12: sc 6, dec, sc 3 (10)
Rnds 13–20: sc in each st (10)
On the right arm only, sc in the next 5 stitches. Count the last sc as the end of the round from now on.
Rnd 21: sc 8, dec (9)
Attach a button or joint inside the arm between Rnds 20 and 21. Position it so the yarn tails or joint post face straight toward the body.
Rnd 22: (dec, sc) x3 (6)
Finish stuffing the arm.
Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail, and fasten off. Pick up all remaining stitches and close the opening.
Legs – Make 2
Rnd 1: Ch 5. Work 2 sc into the second ch from the hook, sc 2, 4 sc in the first ch.
Rotate the piece and continue working on the other side of the foundation chain.
Work sc 2, then 2 sc in the last ch (12).
Continue working in a spiral.
Rnd 2: inc, sc 3, dbl-inc, sc 2, dbl-inc, sc 3, inc (18)
Work Rnd 3 into the back loops only.
Rnds 3–4: sc in each st (18)
Rnd 5: sc 5, dec x2, sc, dec x2, sc 4 (14)
Rnd 6: sc 5, dec x3, sc 3 (11)
Rnd 7: sc 4, dec x2, sc 3 (9)
Stuff the feet firmly. Continue adding a small amount of fiberfill every few rounds while crocheting.
Rnds 8–12: sc in each st (9)
On the left leg only, sc in the next 5 stitches. Count the last sc as the end of the round from now on.
Rnd 13: (sc, dec) x2, sc 2, leave the last stitch unworked (7)
Attach a button or joint inside the leg between Rnds 12 and 13. Position it so the yarn tails or post of the joint face directly toward the body.
Finish stuffing.
Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail, and fasten off. Pick up all remaining stitches and close the opening.
Body
Use gray yarn.
Rnd 1: mr, sc 6 (6)
Rnd 2: inc x6 (12)
Rnd 3: (sc, inc) x6 (18)
Rnd 4: (inc, sc 2) x6 (24)
Rnd 5: (sc 3, inc) x6 (30)
Rnd 6: sc 6, inc, (sc 9, inc) x2, sc 3 (33)
Rnds 7–11: sc in each st (33)
Turn the body so the end of the round is positioned at the center of the back.
Attach the legs to the sides of the body between Rnds 7 and 8.
Rnd 12: sc 4, dec, (sc 9, dec) x2, sc 5 (30)
Rnd 13: (sc 8, dec) x3 (27)
Rnd 14: sc in each st (27)
Rnd 15: sc 10, dec, sc 4, dec, sc 9 (25)
Start stuffing the body. Continue adding small amounts of fiberfill after every few rounds, stuffing firmly.
Rnd 16: sc 6, dec, sc 11, dec, sc 4 (23)
Rnd 17: sc 11, dec, sc 10 (22)
Rnd 18: dec, sc 20 (21)
Rnd 19: sc 5, dec, sc 8, dec, sc 4 (19)
Rnd 20: sc 7, dec, sc 3, dec, sc 5 (17)
Rnd 21: dec, sc 15 (16)
Rnds 22–23: sc in each st (16)
Rnd 24: sc 4, leave the remaining sts unworked (16)
Sl st in the next stitch. Cut the yarn, leaving a long yarn tail for sewing, and fasten off.
Attach the arms to the sides of the body between Rnds 19 and 20.
Finish stuffing the body.
Sew the head to the body using whip stitch. Position the head so the front edge of the body sits just behind Rnd 11 of the head.
Tail
Use gray yarn.
Rnd 1: mr, sc 5 (5)
Rnds 2–3: sc in each st (5)
Start stuffing the tail. Continue adding a small amount of fiberfill after every few rounds, stuffing lightly.
Rnd 4: sc 2, inc, sc 2 (6)
Rnds 5–7: sc in each st (6)
Sl st in the next stitch.
Cut the yarn, leaving a long yarn tail for sewing, and fasten off.
Finish stuffing the tail.
Sew the tail to the body, placing it just above Rnd 6.
Mane and Tail Hair
Cut pieces of black yarn and attach them to the head, back, and tail.
Start attaching the mane at Rnd 13.
Continue around the head and approximately four rows down the back.
Make the mane approximately three stitches wide.
Attach longer pieces of black yarn over the first two rounds of the tail using the same method.
Jackson the Small Donkey is now complete!
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